AMBULANCE services in Staffordshire will not suffer as a result of merging with a neighbouring service, Tony Blair has pledged.

AMBULANCE services in Staffordshire will not suffer as a result of merging with a neighbouring service, Tony Blair has pledged.

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister said the aim was to bring West Midlands Ambulance Service up to the same high standards as Staffordshire.

He was responding to questions from Tory Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, who said he was worried the service would be "downgraded" as a result of the controversial merger.

Campaigners in Staffordshire won a major victory last May when the Government delayed plans to create a single ambulance service covering the West Midlands.

Instead, ministers said Staffordshire Ambulance Service would be allowed to remain independent until West Midlands Ambulance Service had reached the same high standard.

But the process of merging the services has now begun.

Earlier this week, managers from the two ambulance trusts agreed a set of minimum standards both trusts must meet before the amalgamation goes ahead.

This includes responding to 75 per cent of 999 calls within eight minutes.

But while West Midlands Ambulance is achieving this target, responding to 77 per cent of calls within the time limit, Staffordshire Ambulance is far exceeding it, and responds to 87 per cent of calls within eight minutes.

Critics of the merger, including Mr Fabricant, say it is being forced through without any guarantees the quality of treatment won't suffer.

Speaking in the Commons, he said: "A merger is now being proposed. The Health Secretary told Staffordshire MPs that there would be no merger until the West Midlands trust reached the same high standards as Staffordshire."

Mr Blair said: "The intention is that the trusts should work together to prepare for a merger.

"A timetable has not been set for this.

"This is about the West Midlands coming up to Staffordshire's very high standards that have been set, not the other way around."